Two Sides to Every Issue

Well, people are listening. In the past few weeks, the writers here on Viewfinder Redux have talked about the problems with top-down leadership and the need to hear alternative viewpoints. We have made well-considered voting recommendations that have even included members of the Poster slate.

At the same time, members’ email inboxes have been stuffed time and again with diatribes from “elect steven poster” addressing and then dismissing our arguments. While we may not be convinced by their logic, we are certainly glad to be engaged in a stimulating, if contentious, dialogue.

What we are not pleased about are the (pardon my Latin) ad hominem attacks against some of our writers and candidates. Why attack the messenger? On sets across the regions we’ve heard our members express fear for their families in a future with a 400 hour health care qualifying requirement. We’ve heard members question the wisdom of discarding corporate law protections. We’ve heard members complain that, in this economy, it is difficult to come up with $200 for training seminars. We don’t just pull these ideas out of thin air.

Those of us who sit on the board as well as those of us who simply care about the direction of our organization have a duty to give voice to these members’ questions.